SALVATION ARMY Vs. A SUBBIAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted. We will refer to the facts and rank of the parties with reference to the first matter.

(2.) The appellant is an international charitable organization helping the poor. It came forward to construct 44 houses for the tsunami victims of 26th December 2004, and entered into a memorandum of understanding dated 3.3.2006 with the Collector, Nagapattinam, in that behalf. Out of 44 houses financed by the appellant, 15 houses were constructed by the local villagers and the remaining 29 houses by a contractor under the supervision of the support group constituted by the District Collector. All the houses were constructed at Uzhavar Street, North Poigainallur, Nagapattinam District, and were duly inspected and approved for occupation. Almost all the houses have been occupied. The fifteen appellants in the two connected appeals are the allottees of some of those houses who have been issued occupancy certificates and residing therein.

(3.) A public interest litigation was filed by the first respondent alleging that the houses constructed by the appellant were sub-standard, unsafe and unfit for human habitation, posing a threat to the occupants. He therefore sought a direction to the State of Tamil Nadu and District Collector to take action against the appellant and a further direction to monitor the construction by the appellant.